R.A.D. Zoo brings animals for show at library
Published 10:16 am Friday, June 20, 2014
Sisters Lily, right, 4, and Alivia Johnson, 2, pet Lillith, a boa constrictor with the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo, Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
Kids got a chance to see and touch tortoises, snakes and more Thursday at the Albert Lea Public Library.
Sarah Barnard from the R.A.D. Zoo in Owatonna presented a selection of the zoo’s reptiles and amphibians at both 2 and 3 p.m. in the children’s library. The presentation was part of the library’s summer programming.
The children’s library was packed with kids, both boys and girls. Each child’s face lit up with excitement as Barnard brought out each animal and explained what they were.
Some of the animals Barnard brought with her were Tigger the tiger salamander, Franklin the green tortoise, Ming the Chinese water dragon, Lilith the boa constrictor and Sequoia, the zoo’s newest American alligator.
After the presentation, kids got a chance to touch Lilith and Franklin. The children eagerly lined up for the opportunity to touch the reptiles.
R.A.D. Zoo, or the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo, opened in 2009. Executive Director Jamie Pastika and his wife Melissa moved from Florida to Minnesota to open the zoo.
Even though the zoo has only been open for about five years, it has over 150 kinds of animals on display and the zoo’s website said that it’s one of the world’s biggest reptile displays. Some of the other animals that R.A.D. Zoo has to offer are crocodiles, iguanas, newts and even Rainbow Lorikeets, a type of colorful parrot.
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- Sequoia, an alligator at the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo, is shown to those in attendance Thursday during a showing at the Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Sisters Lily, right, 4, and Alivia Johnson, 2, pet Lillith, a boa constrictor with the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo, Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Children in attendance raise their hand with questions during a Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Children get a chance to pet both a tortoise and a boa constrictor at the end of a Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Knowledge Medrano, 4, pets Lillith, a Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo boa constrictor, during a showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo’s Sara Barnard holds up a turtle to show those in attendance during a showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- A Chinese water dragon from Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo falls asleep as handler Sara Barnard rubs its head during a presentation Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo’s Sara Barnard shows Sequoia the alligator to those in attendance during a showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- A corn snake from Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo cozies up to handler Sara Barnard during a showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
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- Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo’s Sara Barnard holds a Chinese water dragon to show those in attendance during a showing Thursday at Albert Lea Public Library. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune
